Reflection Back on 50 Years at the Ductile Iron Society

Dick McMinn

We are here because of the event on July 2, 1958 , the incorporation of the Ductile Iron Society in Hamilton , Ohio .  From that day to the present the history of our industry and that of the world has dramatically changed because of this event.  The reason it was necessary to form this Society was that the patent which  I.N.C.O. held on Ductile Iron from its invention was about to run out in late 1966.  Foundries would then no longer be able to be licensed at the meetings (which were held once a year).  For this reason and the fact that a few individuals felt that Ductile Iron was too complicated to produce, the Ductile Iron Society was formed. The two gentleman from INCO that were very active in the Ductile Iron Society were Keith Millis and Ken Kirgin.

The history of this society is best described in its articles of incorporation.  The tribute to the success of the society is how these words were put into action through the dedication of its members and leadership of the 26 presidents since 1958.  Let’s look at this vision and how it has become reality.  

On June 23, 1958, three gentlemen, William Beatty-Morris Bean, Robert Thompson-HP Deusher Company, Ken Guise-Richmond Foundry agreed to serve asTrustees and were the first members to register.

On July 2, 1958 , DIS was incorporated in Hamilton , OH .  The first executive director was Jim Lansing, who was formerly the Executive Director of  The Malleable Iron Society.  Jim served in this position from 1958 to 1975.  He also did some consulting.  Jim was responsible in bringing Charlie Mooney to Buck Company in 1972, as V.P. of Buck and in 1974 he became president until his retirement in 1988.

Until 1968, DIS held four meetings per year, then we held three meetings a year.

With Jim’s retirement, Keith Millis who we know as the Father of Ductile Iron became the second Executive Director.  Keith served in this capacity from 1975 to 1990.  Under Keith’s leadership, in 1985, with the industry starting to shrink and our attendance falling off, we went to two meetings a year, which is the same format we continue today.

I can remember a board meeting in Newark near Keith’s home (they were interesting) with Lyle being there and Art Avedison.  They would spend an hour or two arguing about everything from Sharpie to the subject of the day.  If Art said black, Lyle would say white, and then Keith would throw gas on the fire. They were long meetings.

In 1990, Jack Hall became Executive Director until his retirement last year.  Jim Wood is our current Executive Director.  

I had the privilege of knowing all of these men and working with Keith and Jack.

DIS also had Technical Directors since 1958, the first one being Jim Vanick and he was still active until his death in February, 1982. I can remember working with Jim at Buck.

He carried little ring pocket sized pads with notes in them and several packets with rubber bands around them.  As a young man he taught me a lot about the production of Ductile Iron.  Jim would stay out in the foundry 8 hours a day many times.

Art Adams retired from Ford and helped out a year after Jim passed away.

Then Lyle was Technical Director from 1983 thru 2001.

Jim Mullins from 2001 thru 2007.

Now we have our 5th Technical Director, Jim Wood, who also is our Executive Director.

We as a society have been served well by all of our Executive Director’s and Technical Director’s over the years.  This is what has kept us as healthy today.

I got some info from Ken Kirgin, who many of us know.  Ken worked with Keith as Application Engineer from 1953 to 1966.   Also on this team were Ralph White and Bob Savage.

Keith was experimenting on finding replacement for CR for use in Nihard using magnesium when he discovered ductile iron. That was on April 12, 1943 .

It took INCO four years to get a patent. It was granted November, 1947. License was granted in October, 1949 and ran out in 1966.

In 1956 there was a 27 day trial in New York between Ford Motor and INCO on patent infringement.

In closing, some meetings that I will remember.

1974, Lynchburg meeting was at Hotel Roanoke. Clyde Sanders was speaker. I remember his statement, “If the Molder was still king in your foundry in 1990, you will go out of business”.

1977, Hodge Foundry – We stayed in Erie with Frank Voltstell, who owned Cleveland Flux. He was good friends with Mayor Toolie.  I went with Frank and Charlie Mooney to City Hall and the Mayor gave Charlie a key to the city.

Two things that I would like to bring up.

TOM COOK

Tim Brown : We were introduced to the DIS by a friendly competitor.  He was right on the money when he told us that the modest dues would more than pay for themselves with the technical sessions, foundry visitations and good social interaction.  Our meetings are useful, working, technical meeting: not golf and tennis extravaganzas.”